The Foreign affairs (development) Council meeting of 12 December 2014 has adopted a number of conclusions in the field of migration and development cooperation emphasizing the positive migration and development circle and orientations to strengthen this relation.

On the occasion of 25 November 2014 EP Plenary Debate on Migration, EU new Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, introduced the debate and presented the EU main orientations and policy fields for an integrated approach on migration and asylum

Eurostat published data on first residence permits issued to non-EU nationals. A residence permit represents an authorization issued by the competent authorities of a country allowing third-country national (non-EU citizens) to stay legally on its territory.

On 20 October 2014, the European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has opened an investigation into how Frontex ensures the respect of fundamental rights of migrants who are subject to forced returns from the EU to their countries of origin.

The European Commission published on 26 September 2014 a handbook to help EU Member States take action against marriages of convenience between EU citizens and non-EU nationals in the context of EU law on free movement. The Commission prepared the handbook in close cooperation with Member States.

After ten years of support to families, through its centre of private international family law, the ADDE proposes to study some actual problems experienced by the beneficiaries of the centre.

In the past few days more than 300 people died as a consequence of three different incidents with vessels that were trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Europe.

This year, the EMN Conference aims to support the policymaking process on a number of key areas of irregular migration policy, namely readmission, return, reintegration and cooperation with countries of transit and origin, as well as re-entry bans and (alternatives to) detention.

The 7th Meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) will take place in Stockholm on 14-16 May 2014. The GFMD Civil Society Days are held prior to the meeting, on 12-13 May 2014.

In preparation of the Global Forum on Migration and Development Meeting in Stockholm the 14th to 16th May the Transatlantic Council on Migration published a Council Statement: How Migration Can Advance Development Goals.

Prof. Luis E. Guarnizo (University of California, Davis) will explore the epistemic and ontological origins and evolution of transnationalism as an analytical perspective in migration studies since its origins in the early 1990s.

The King Baudouin Foundation aims to reduce vulnerability amongst newcomers settling in Belgium through marriage. Associations working on marriage migration related challenges are invited to submit possible projects before 16 April 2014.

The Commission is presenting guidance for the correct and meaningful application of the Family Reunification Directive (2003/86/EC) across Member States while avoiding possible abuses.

In a communication released today, the Commission provides guidance on how to apply Directive 2003/86/EC. Member States are invited to use their margin of appreciation in a manner that doesn't undermine the objective of the Directive.

New provisions making information exchange compulsory on suspected and attempts of relationships of convenience enter into force on 3 April 2013.

Foyer organises a half-day seminar on the recent law of 2 June 2013 on the fight against marriages and legal cohabitations of convenience.

Tunisia and the EU today formally established a Mobility Partnership. Belgium is one of the ten EU Member States involved in the Partnership.

Tunisia and the EU today formally established a Mobility Partnership. Together with nine other EU Member States, Belgium is involved in the Partnership and signed the joint Declaration.

In a report adopted today the Commission looks at important achievements in strengthening dialogue and cooperation in EU's external migration and asylum policy, but recognizes that more should be done to make further progress.